On collecting... and a really good vintage recommendation
A fun little one for that time of year when we're feeling reflective (and yes, I'm currently mid-closet clean out).
As long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to certain things that just feel ‘right’.
Lately, even though I’m in a new climate (LA), getting dressed is methodical. My wardrobe is pretty consistent. I’ve been wearing versions of my favorite pieces since elementary school… oversized button-ups, grey sweatshirts, track pants, Birkenstocks, vintage denim - just to name a few.
These are the things I always reach for, the things that never let me down. The things my closet is full of.
Knowing this, it may surprise you that I’ve spent a lifetime searching for the words to effectively explain my personal style. I’ve groped toward explanations, throwing out a handful of decent (to me) attempts. “Simple but thoughtful,” “classic with a twist,” “comfortable but polished,” “sexy tomboy”. But the trouble is none of these really touch the depth of what getting dressed actually feels like for me.
Reading this post made me see it with a new kind of clarity.
I’m a collector.
My closet is full of more than just ‘clothes’ - because for me, getting dressed isn’t just a practical personal style equation (x + y + z = NAILED IT). It’s emotional. It’s a daily ritual of self-expression.
I collect to feel like myself.
I collect to have the comfort of a stack of perfectly worn grey sweatshirts, each with its own shape and personality.
I collect at times being drawn to a feeling.
I collect to evolve.
I collect to have an incentive to shed what no longer serves me.
I collect to wrap myself in beauty (yes, very practical beauty).
This collection of mine? It’s as much a part of my personal style as the act of dressing itself.
Because when you know what feels right, you seek it out. <3
And, sometimes, I collect from friends — like my friend Cale at Shop Good Form — who just gets it, who has an eye for pieces that feel like a natural extension of my collection, my style, my self. You should have an eye on all of his goods too!
